I examined my outfit in the full-length mirror in one of the guest rooms of the Tremaine house. I had a typical coachman outfit – tan jacket with white pants and a hat to cover my hair – and a skin-tight black tunic with black leggings underneath. I used my makeup kit to give myself wrinkles. I compressed my bow so that it resembled a walking stick – what every old man needs – and stuck my arrows in the holder on the side. I tucked a knife in both boots. I practiced a gravely, elderly voice, just in case it would be needed. I was preparing a lot for things that most likely wouldn't be needed, but this was a good paying job; $500,000 if and when I succeeded.

I had asked Lady Tremaine to not tell her daughters. The less people who knew about me; the better. To them, I was just the coachman. There to be their escort to the ball, then either wait in the coach for them to finish or leave and come back. The whole point is for them, and everyone else, to believe that I am just an aged man, and not a teenage female assassin. Appearance was everything; as was leading people to assume and move on.

The Tremaine girls were finally ready to depart. I had been at the house for at least an hour; and they were getting ready before I got there. I never really paid much attention to the coachmen, a detail that assisted me in choosing my disguise, so this job was helpful in opening my eyes to pay attention to the staff members, as you never know what they can be hiding.

I hadn't really been to the castle, so the layout wasn't very familiar to me. My plan was to drive the coach around and look for a blind spot, preferably one with a few bushes for me to hide in, then no other hindrances between me and my target. Once I found that spot, I would wait there until the prince came into my line of spot.

As we drove up to the castle, I had to take a moment to admire it. It was quite impressive with its white walls and golden roof. As I looked at it longer, I had to smile. The palace was obviously built for looks, not protection. One well-placed bomb could destroy the walls of the entire castle. There were many places where an assassin could hide; countless places an unsuspecting person could pass by without guards and out of sight from the turrets.

I opened the door and escorted Anastasia and Drizella to the main doors of the palace. Once they were inside, I left them, supposedly going back to the coach. Instead, I stayed right outside the door and watched as the girls got their turn to meet the prince.

As with all the girls before them, the prince simply bowed to them as they curtsied, and looked bored. Well, I was pretty sure that the prince was not showing any interest in them whatsoever, so it was time for part two of the plan.

I strolled casually back to the coach. There, I pulled off the coachman outfit and hid it in the false bottom of the carriage, revealing the black clothes underneath. I crept along the outside of the palace until I got to the spot I had picked out earlier. It was in a blind spot, no guards nearby, a small bush to hide me, and nothing else blocking my line of sight.

I still had my 'walking stick' aka my bow. I pressed the button on top of the stick to make it expand back to a bow. I pulled my arrows from the side holder. I was ready, I just had to have patience and my job would be finished.

About an hour passed before my opportunity arose. The prince came into my line of sight 25 feet in front of me, all alone; no possible wives or guards. It seemed as though he had simply gone out for a breath of air or something similar, but whatever the case, it was time for me to complete my mission.

It was an easy shot from 25 feet away. I fitted an arrow to my bow. I looked down the shaft of the arrow at my target. I took careful aim and considered any possible obstacles. Wind? Nothing to worry about. People? Plants? Other objects? None in sight. I drew in a breath through my mouth and let it out through my nose. I focused and let my arrow fly.

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We caught up to the first part of chapter 1. Open to title suggestions and don't forget to review!